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Thanksgiving Eve

While I was eating lunch I heard the sound of a delivery truck out front. Because the weather is so warm I had the doors open and can hear all the neighborhood happenings.I digress--the doorbell rang, and what should I find but a box of flowers from the Spaks! I immediately called Lisa to thank her,she said she had no part in it--it was her sweet husband's doing. Thank you Danny! You can see what a lovely bouquet it is.

It's been a very long time since I spent the day cooking, but I did it today I'm thrilled to report. It is only 6:30, and I'll probably be in bed by 8, but it's only once a year. We expect 15 tomorrow.

Here's the menu:18 lb turkey (hopefully, it will be enough with a few light eaters and a vegetarian in the bunch)Mashed potatoes and gravySausage dressing (my parents were from the North--thus we don't call it the Southern name--stuffing)Green beans with mushrooms and shallotsCorn with bacon and green onionsSavory cornbread puddingCrescent rollsSaladApple pie with homemade vanilla ice creamPumpkin pie with whipped cream

Here's what I made today:stockcompound butter with fresh herbs for the turkeycruditesdipchopped onions and celery for the dressingvanilla ice creampumpkin pieapple pie (sliced apples etc.)cornbread puddingchicken noodle soup for dinner spiced pecans

There may have been more, but that's what I remember for now.

I was getting worried because Bruce was to have arrived in Orlando at 2:30 and wasn't home by 4. I thought surely he had been delayed with holiday traffic. Not the case at all. I left a message on his cell, when he returned the call I mentioned that I was hoping he'd be our sommelier. He said maybe. When he did arrive home he surprised me--he had been shopping at Whole Foods all that time;he brought home some very nice wines. I guess that's what happens when you've been married for 34 years--you anticipate needs.

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